This week, a special, young family had their first baby boy…I heard from friends their 30-year-old granddaughter had a severe stroke… An Arizona friend told me she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and her mother died from the same disease… I had a lengthy conversation with a neighbor about getting older, aging parents, and the fear of how death would … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Money can’t buy the 86,400 second in a day back
I have basically wasted away half of my day. I slept in, played Words With Friends, watched the “Price is Right,” and didn’t dress until noon. I had lunch with a friend, and returned home. In a computer search, I found this appropriate, anonymous story. Imagine you won a contest, and your prize was $86,400 each and every day of your life. It was deposited into your … [Read more...]
A ‘Plan B’ can alleviate anxiety
Last Thursday, I tied a sweatshirt around my waist, grabbed my backpack and headed downtown to the Farmer’s Market. I made sure I had my phone and Bluetooth, and sketchbook. I headed out the door for a great afternoon in Estes. I walked to the end of the road, and it started to sprinkle. I looked at the sky, moaned, grumbled, and turned around and went back home. How … [Read more...]
Peace begins with speaking out against ignorance
I am writing this on Monday morning after the 6-12-16 Orlando shooting. I am sick and sad of hate, guns, blood, tears, police sirens, pain, panic, and chaos. STOP. Please, STOP! This killing in our great country makes me want to get on the roof and scream, at the top of my lungs, STOP, just STOP. Following is a poem I wrote several years ago, but it is still … [Read more...]
Like Gerald the giraffe, men can be great role models
If anyone saw me at Columbine Park last week, I was not merely weird, I was reading and participating in the Story Walk in the Park stations sponsored by Friends of the Sterling Public Library. Reading a story as I walked was SO delightful. As directed, at one station I twirled around and bowed, at another I stretched my neck and looked at the moon and stars, at another … [Read more...]
‘We learn from failure not success’
Neil Gaiman, English author of the comic book series “The Sandman,” said, “Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. “Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here.” I don’t know about you, but I have made plenty of mistakes in my life, so I’m glad to know mistakes have value. When I … [Read more...]
Fear can be a safe place, debilitating or both
I recently wondered upon an art store closing. My brain was over-stimulated, next to chaotic; brushes, acrylics, oils, mats, frames, canvases, framed originals, plus all the fixtures. As I browsed, I noticed my last name printed on a children’s picture book – “Buffalo Woman, written and illustrated by Paul Goble. The vivid cover included bisons standing in front … [Read more...]
Mental and physical health are inseparable
Early this year, while visiting my sister at UCHealth’s University of Colorado Hospital, a mental health counselor came into her room. She addressed concerns of pain, anxiety, depression, loss, and fear. My sister relaxed and appeared calmer. The counselor made regular rounds, just like the medical staff, and my sister found it reassuring and comforting. As … [Read more...]
Graduation is happy but also stressful
Many families will soon be celebrating high school graduation. After 18 years of growing together, parents and students will be experiencing changes that include separation. After the joy of graduation ceremonies and parties, summer will come to an end, and the class of 2016 will be off to college, full-time jobs, traveling, starting families, living independently, … [Read more...]
Being cheerful and positive pays off in many ways
Something happened this week I have never experienced before. In my entire life, it was a first. It was simple, but it left me stunned. So much so, I don’t recall the details. I was at the mall and hungry. I was alone and knew nobody. I was also preoccupied because I finished a two-hour computer training only moments before. I circled the food court and most everything … [Read more...]
Take time Sunday to thank a very important person
Paisly Monica McConnell (Editor’s Note: Filling in today for Dr. Jennifer Goble is her granddaughter Paisly.) Mother’s Day is one day out of the year where we take the time to say, “Thank You!” to the women who do everything for us. I know, for me, my mom is the most important person in my life. She has taken care of me on the good days and helped me out … [Read more...]
Are you a ‘P’ or a ‘J’?
(Editor’s Note: This is the last of four articles explaining personality differences. Learn more at www.myersbriggs.org.) Knowing if you prefer Perceiving (P) or Judging (J), the type of lifestyle one adopts, can improve relationships, parenting success, and career choices. Imagine you have a huge, important project due in the morning and you are deep in finishing the … [Read more...]
Are you a thinker or a feeler?
(Editor’s Note: This the last of four articles explaining personality differences. Learn more at www.myersbriggs.org.) Knowing if you prefer Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), how you make decisions, can improve relationships, parenting success, and career choices. Imagine you want to convince a friend to join you in a zip-line ride over the Royal Gorge. Are you … [Read more...]
Do you prefer Sensing (S) or Intuiting (N)?
(The second of four articles explaining personality differences. Learn more at www.myersbriggs.org) Knowing if you prefer Sensing (S) or Intuiting (N), how you gain information, can improve relationships, parenting success, and career choices. Imagine house shopping. What would you see and how would you describe a house you toured? I am a “S”, meaning I bring in … [Read more...]
Sharing stories can enhance mental well-being
My new online project launched in December, and is taking on a life of it’s own. It started out as a website (www.ruralwomenstories.com) for women to post short stories about their lives. I am finding many women don’t believe their life is worthy of writing about, they don’t trust their writing skills, and posting on a website is stressful. If I don’t go to … [Read more...]